Political Scienceat Wellesley College
Graduates earn $50,214/yr in their first year — about 37.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $549K; scenarios range from $505K to $557K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Wellesley College
Your strong career outlook from Wellesley’s Political Science program stems directly from its elite liberal arts foundation, which cultivates exceptional critical thinking, rigorous research, and persuasive communication skills. These attributes are highly valued across diverse sectors, including policy analysis, law, international relations, and strategic consulting, often leading to impactful roles in government, non-profits, or private industry. The college's deep alumnae network and proximity to Boston's vibrant policy and advocacy scene offer unparalleled internship and mentorship opportunities, creating a direct pipeline to influential positions. While AI risk is a factor in the broader field, your Wellesley education uniquely emphasizes the human-centric skills of ethical reasoning, complex problem-solving, and leadership that are irreplaceable. To maximize your post-graduation prospects, actively pursue internships that expose you to different career paths and consider supplementing your political science studies with quantitative analysis or data science skills.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Wellesley College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Wellesley College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Wellesley College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Wellesley College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at Wellesley College
How does Wellesley College's Political Science program score?
This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Political Science at Wellesley College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $257,280, but the average net cost is $100,032 — a 61% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.